Reporter goes back to the future at Central

Updated 12:50 am, Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Post reporter Keila Torres Ocasio checks out one of the murals in the cafeteria at Central High School in Bridgeport, her alma mater, during a visit to the school on Thursday, August 29, 2013. The murals, which were erected when she was a student at the school, feature photos of her high school classmates. less

Post reporter Keila Torres Ocasio checks out one of the murals in the cafeteria at Central High School in Bridgeport, her alma mater, during a visit to the school on Thursday, August 29, 2013. The murals, which ... more

Post reporter Keila Torres Ocasio, right, visits with one of her former instructors, history teacher Thomas Wade, while visiting her alma mater,Central High School in Bridgeport, Conn., on Thursday, August 29, 2013. less

Post reporter Keila Torres Ocasio, right, visits with one of her former instructors, history teacher Thomas Wade, while visiting her alma mater,Central High School in Bridgeport, Conn., on Thursday, August 29, ... more

BRIDGEPORT -- I'd watched "Never Been Kissed" and "21 Jump Street," but never imagined I would someday have a job where one of my assignments would be to go back to school.

And yet on Thursday -- 10 years after graduating from Central Magnet High School -- I found myself standing at its front doors for the first day of school. But instead of going undercover like in the movies, I went as myself: a 2003 Central grad who went on to work at her hometown newspaper and has covered the city too long to not be recognized by administrators right away.

The local face of the struggling Bridgeport schools is often city politicians, the Board of Education and Superintendent Paul Vallas, whose qualifications for the role will soon be decided in court.

But it's the students and teachers who are directly affected by the national frenzy for education reform and the new common core curriculum here. So I'll be spending time at my alma mater this semester to get a glimpse into what a school day really is like in this inner-city school -- politics aside and education reform in action.

Immediately, there was one significant change. I was met at the front door by the new high-school welcoming committee: school security.

A few years back, each city high school had metal detectors installed, and on Thursday I had to walk through the machine and give two security officers my name. They gave me a bright, green visitor pass in return.

Even though I was surprised at this change, I have to admit I did feel safer knowing the metal detector and school police were there. To be clear, I never felt unsafe in a metal-detector-less Central, even though we did have lockdowns often because of student fights.

But that was pre-Newtown.

Inside the school lobby, there was a sea of the Central Hilltoppers in red, white and black collared shirts, part of the mandatory uniform put in place a few years ago. Students hate them.

"It's just restrictive," said Kyle, a junior, who paired his white, collared shirt with jeans instead of the required black or tan slacks. Two of his friends, however, were taking advantage of the two-week grace period allowed by administrators.

The worst offender was Megan, a sophomore wearing a T-shirt with kitten heads on it and black tights under jean shorts. On her head was a winter hat with a row of spikes. On her feet were clunky black shoes, also with spikes. Cool, but not compliant.

Tina, the one girl in the group wearing a full uniform, had a simple reason for wearing it: "My mom made me."

I'm sure I would have hated the uniform too, but on Thursday it was nice to see my old school colors wherever I turned.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see the school's principal, Stephen Anderson, interacting so much with students. Whether he was standing in the lobby, walking down the halls or looking around the cafeteria, Anderson would extend his hand to every student who passed by.

"I really care about the kids," Anderson said. "That's one way I have to communicate that. I see it as a sign of respect and of welcome."

Even school security personnel were friendly Thursday and gave kids inspirational messages while ushering them through the hallways and into class.

"I need you in class. I need you to stay focused and accomplish your goals," yelled out Rafael Quezada, a school security officer who started at the school in 2004, just after I graduated.

And Anderson even remembered kids' names.

That certainly differed from my memory of Mr. Andrew Karcich, who was principal my freshman year. A tall, imposing figure with a reputation for being strict. This semester, I'll explore whether this new attitude toward students is a statewide or national approach and whether it's working to motivate kids.

My only memory of Karcich was of times he would reprimand students for wearing hats.

There was still some of that going on Thursday, but there was also one new phenomenon that didn't -- and couldn't -- exist when I was at Central. Anderson had to keep reminding kids to put away their cellphones.

And nearly every teen boy he talked to had earphones hanging from their earlobes, the cord attached to a smartphone in their pocket. Cellphones were around when I graduated, but we couldn't all afford one, and they didn't serve many other functions than my house phone did.

I also saw some familiar faces.

Eric Graf, my former AP psychology teacher, is now assistant principal at the school. He and Anderson gave me a quick tour, although the building hasn't changed much -- OK at all -- since I left 10 years ago.

Even the large billboards in the cafeteria with pictures of my fellow 2003 grads were still there. That won't be the case for much longer, though, since the school is slated for renovations and an addition next year.

But, besides needing a good coat of paint, the school looked exactly as I remember it. Even my former history teacher Thomas Wade, or Mr. Wade as I will always call him, looked the same.

What's changed in 10 years,?

"My pronunciation is getting worse, and the classes are getting bigger," he said, smiling.

I'll be spending some time in his classroom this year.

Because it was the first day, teachers spent most of the time introducing themselves to kids and going over rules, procedures and expectations. On my next visit, things will have settled down, and I'll be able to experience the new scheduling system.

The system places students and teachers in "teams," allowing teachers to coordinate their lesson plans.

So if an English teacher plans to read "The Odyssey," for example, the history teacher in that team will focus on Greek mythology. If students in a particular team are having a problem, or being a problem, teachers can work together to resolve the issues.

"That's one of the benefits of the team, that communication piece," Graf said.

The system also eliminates the usual "block shift" schedule. Instead of having a rotation of different periods at different times throughout the week, students have every class every day.

Kevin, a 17-year-old junior, said he's willing to give the team-system a chance.

His one gripe? "We have homework every class," he said. "With the block schedule, I had a day or two to do it, because I wouldn't have that period the next day." Now, they have homework every day.

My high-school self commiserated with him. My 28-year-old self, who has reported on the low graduation and college enrollment rates here, knew administrators are hoping more homework and the new system could be one reason his senior class will be luckier than the class of 2013.